Mao V. Ngo (Ngô Văn Mão)
Systems Architect & AI-RAN specialist · Future Communications Programme, SUTD
Co-founder & Lead Engineer, NeuroRAN
Email: vanmao_ngo @ sutd dot edu dot sg
Summary. I am a Systems Architect at SUTD’s Future Communications R&D Programme and a Co-founder of NeuroRAN, a deep-tech spin-off specializing in AI-RAN solutions. At SUTD, I lead the technical team for the Asia-Pacific OTIC in Singapore, an AI-RAN Alliance–endorsed lab. I have led multiple international projects, including multi-vendor O-RAN testing and integration at OTIC, joint demo showcases at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona with industry-leading partners, and the 5G NTN demonstration for World Expo 2025.
I hold a Ph.D. in Computer Science from SUTD and a Summa Cum Laude degree from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, with experience spanning academic research at A*STAR and industrial telecom software engineering. My work centers on intelligent and open RAN—developing AI-RAN and O-RAN solutions, enabling cloud-style capabilities at the edge, and applying machine learning to network security and automation. Previously, I was a Research Scientist at I²R, A*STAR (2021–2022), a Postdoctoral Fellow at SUTD (2020–2021), and spent over four years as an R&D engineer on carrier-grade telecom systems.
Impact & visibility
- O-RAN Global PlugFest: hosted multiple cycles at APOS/OTIC (Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025) — ranging from O-RAN conformance test, to interoperability test, end-to-end test, security test, and testing with global partners.
- Private 5G & O-RAN: design and integration of multi-vendor O-RAN stacks at OTIC; early private 5G networks in Singapore; O-RAN testing and certification with partners (e.g. Keysight, VIAVI, Rohde & Schwarz).
- Demos: MWC Barcelona 2024–2026 (AI-RAN / O-RAN showcases with industry partners); World Expo 2025 (Osaka) — 5G NTN live video call, Singapore Pavilion (multi-company integration).
- Innovation showcases: 5G AR/MR drone racing, 5G robotics & autonomy — illustrating industrial and societal use of 5G in Singapore.
- NeuroRAN: product architecture and roadmap; private 5G, O-RAN, and AI-enabled network automation for regional customers and technology transfer.
- Earlier: Ph.D. on contextual-bandit anomaly detection and hierarchical edge computing (code, demo); federated learning for anomaly detection (postdoc); malware ML at I²R; Ericsson APZ-AXE R&D (including IPv6 contribution).
Education
- Ph.D. in Computer Science, SUTD, 2016–2020 — Thesis: “Mobile Edge Computing with Machine Learning: from IoT Devices to Edge Servers, and to a Hierarchy.” Advisors: Prof. Tony Q.S. Quek (SUTD), Prof. Tony T. Luo (A*STAR), and Dr. Derek Leong (A*STAR).
- M.Eng. Electronic Engineering, HCMUT, 2012–2015
- B.S. Telecommunications Engineering (GPA 5.0/5.0, summa cum laude), KPI, Ukraine, 2006–2011
Roles (compact)
| Period | Role |
|---|---|
| Dec 2024 – present | NeuroRAN — Co-founder, Lead Engineer (product architecture, roadmap, customer & partner engagement) |
| Apr 2022 – present | FCP, SUTD — Systems Architect (OTIC O-RAN, private 5G, PlugFests, MWC, Expo NTN, AR/MR & robotics demos) |
| Jun 2021 – Apr 2022 | I²R, A*STAR — Research Scientist (malware ML, incremental/active learning) |
| Aug 2020 – Jun 2021 | SUTD — Postdoctoral Fellow (federated learning for anomaly detection) |
| Sep 2016 – Jul 2020 | SUTD — Ph.D. (edge ML, contextual bandits, WBAN MAC — see Projects) |
| Jul 2015 – Aug 2016 | SUTD — Research Assistant (WBAN lab, IEEE 802.15.4e, BLE) |
| Nov 2011 – Jun 2015 | DEK Technologies — R&D Engineer (Ericsson APZ-AXE; IPv6; full SDLC) |
| Sep 2018 – Jan 2019 | SUTD — Teaching Assistant, 01.112 Machine Learning |
Visiting: NTU (Apr 2019, Prof. Ai-Chun Pang); Telecom Sud Paris (Sep–Dec 2019, Prof. Hakima Chaouchi).
News · Projects · Publications · Achievements · Miscellaneous